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Grabbing a few hours Rotary time before Helo advanced?

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Would having a few civilian rotary hours going into advanced be worth it? Have the the opportubity to grad 5 hours in an R22. Thought the experience would be a good familiarization and potentially give a leg up.

Just trying to get my first choice out of advanced. I didn’t get my first choice out of primary and it was really frustrating; wanted maritime. Every Stucon I’ve talked to said your NSS is more or less determined by how you do in the first couple of flights. Figured no one going to advanced has any Helo time and the experience would give me a leg up.

Land of the Milk and Honey.

Just trying to get my first choice out of advanced. I didn’t get my first choice out of primary and it was really frustrating; wanted maritime. Every Stucon I’ve talked to said your NSS is more or less determined by how you do in the first couple of flights. Figured no one going to advanced has any Helo time and the experience would give me a leg up.

Eh maybe, but then again the first couple flights aren't graded. What they mean is that it's easiest to break out from the grades where you often only need a 2 or a 3 in the early stages of flight school as opposed to almost exclusively 4's by the end.

It's frustrating, but also understand that quality spread is a thing. It's frustrating, it's not well advertised, but... it's real.

I also do not think paying for R-22 time would be worth it, I can't imagine it giving much of a leg up, but if it's free, take it.

Active Member

Would having a few civilian rotary hours going into advanced be worth it? Have the the opportubity to grad 5 hours in an R22. Thought the experience would be a good familiarization and potentially give a leg up.

Agree with what was said above about time being free. If it is free, take it because why not. I wouldn't spend $ on just a few hours of R22 time as I imagine most of that experience will be washed out by the impending flood of info you'll learn about the 57. Other than the first 4 flights (not factored into NSS), advanced is like primary - you make your money in the brief, maintaining SA in the cockpit and running procedures by the book. At the end, you'll get whatever platform is available for that winging class. That being said, most of my friends recently have been getting somewhere in their top 3 for selection out of advanced.

Land of the Milk and Honey.

There's 2/9 options for Norfolk, and one isn't all that common to select, which is 53's. Just put Norfolk last, but understand you're then risking going Guam or Japan (which may or may not be a preference for you). And, ultimately, 53's are the only current platform with a minimum score, which scoops up people who aren't the bottom of the class, but usually aren't the top either, so that middle 80% (speculating) are the ones that are eligible for those anyway. Like I said - quality spread exists.

- hawk Pilot

I was stationed at Mayport and San Diego during my Navy time. I currently live in Jacksonville and visit NS Norfolk about once a month for planning conferences or DLQs. From what I've seen, I can identify with the OPs desire to avoid the Norfolk area. Take what I have to say with a grain of salt. I am as close to not being in the military as you can be, other than the Air Force, while still being in the military. Norfolk? No es bueno. But IMO the same thing applies to ALL Army bases.

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I was stationed at Mayport and San Diego during my Navy time. I currently live in Jacksonville and visit NS Norfolk about once a month for planning conferences or DLQs. From what I've seen, I can identify with the OPs desire to avoid the Norfolk area. Take what I have to say with a grain of salt. I am as close to not being in the military as you can be, other than the Air Force, while still being in the military. Norfolk? No es bueno. But IMO the same thing applies to ALL Army bases.

Yep. Validating my thoughts on Norfolk. Spent some time out there aboard the NOAA ship Gordon Gunter. Terrible place. No desire to take my family there especially when I was stationed at Camp Pendleton for a hot minute.

@DanMa1156 my Wife and I are hoping for Japan. So is every other warm body here. Thus making it the “Jets” of helo advanced. I get the 2/9 options for me, but that’s misleading when there are like 10 squadrons in Norfolk.

Professional CCX Wrangler

@Igloojam First, don’t pay for helo flight time. If you’re actively avoiding Norfolk, that’s doable. However, it’s not like selecting out of VTs. They quality spread folks around quite purposely, so your dream sheet is just a wish list in the event of a tie.

Second, don’t shit on Norfolk too hard. If your only experience is a MIDN cruise or dudes who’ve never lived there, that’s nothing. I was there for four years and I’d gladly go back, but it’s probably not in my cards. There really are no *bad* helo duty stations. NS Norfolk and NAS Oceana are 20 miles apart, but jet guys trip over themselves to get Oceana over Lemoore.